The Bromance Gets Physical: Men more comfortable kissing friends

With the blowup with people wanting GLBTs dead, that they are going to hell, and that they are the downfall of the world, I found this article today at the Age rather refreshing. There is some sanity and common sense in the world; it's just a shame that some are to blinding by their close-mindedness to see it. Good news is that they are slowly starting to become the minority. Anyway, enjoy the article, and discuss.

October 29, 2010 - 1:16PM
Heterosexual male students are more comfortable kissing their friends than ever before, researchers say.

University students now see nothing wrong with showing friendship to another man through a kiss on the lips.

Researchers at the University of Bath found that 89 per cent of white undergraduate men at two UK universities and one sixth form college said they were happy to kiss another man on the lips through friendship.

They found that 36 per cent of respondents had also engaged in sustained kissing, initially for shock value, but now they occurred just for "a laugh".

Daniel Eagles, an undergraduate at University of Bath, said he did not have a problem with kissing his male friends.

He said: "I am comfortable to kiss my friends in situations such as their birthday or when someone scored a goal or just if we are having a laugh."

"Physical contact with your friends helps to bring you closer. I have been in a relationship with my girlfriend for more than a year and she doesn't think anything of it when I kiss my guy friends."

Dr Eric Anderson, from the university's department of education, said: "Heterosexual men kissing each other in friendship is an offshoot of what happens when homophobia is reduced."

"At these universities, overt homophobia has reduced to near extinction, permitting those men to engage in behaviour that was once taboo."

"Men are kissing each other in university clubs and pubs, in front of their peers, and for many it serves as an occasional, exuberant greeting or banter when partying."

"The kiss is a sign of affection in student social spaces, a sign of victory on the pitch, or celebration at a nightclub but it does not have a sexual connotation in any of these spaces."

"It seems generally younger people are becoming more and more open minded with each generation."

PhD sociology student Adi Adams, who helped Dr Anderson with the research, said: "We noticed that more and more men were kissing each other in clubs or after scoring a goal as a form of celebration, and many would put pictures of themselves kissing their friends on Facebook."

"We then began our research and realised that the way men tell each other that one has made it into their circle of close friends is to kiss."

"In this respect, men are catching up with women who regularly use a kiss as a sign of affection to a female friend."

Adi, who is heterosexual, added: "My first experience of kissing a man was at uni and I was a bit taken aback, but now it feels like a normal act of friendship."

"It doesn't feel that it threatens my masculinity or heterosexuality - instead it is becoming part of acceptable masculinity and heterosexuality."

Dr Anderson's research is published online in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

He is now expanding his research to see how these attitudes are affected by race and social class.

This may be new to Americans, but it's pretty common across the world. I suppose it's just another sign of how small mass air travel is making Planet Earth.

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Definitely new to Americans, i can't help but wonder if it will ever become the norm here. Doesn't seem likely, i live in a more progressive area of the country and i haven't seen any man on man kissing here, unless it's a gay couple.

I hope it doesn't become the norm in North America. The cultural thing in Europe and other places doesn't bother me so much as it is a quick cheek peck on both sides. That's their culture and it is not sensual in nature.

But start doing that here in America and folks are going to look at you weird.

I think it is probably an offshoot of increased urbanization, the viral nature of the internet (Sandbach Rugby Club anyone?) and probably most importantly, a reflection of the post WWII social democracies in Europe.

I hope it doesn't become the norm in North America. The cultural thing in Europe and other places doesn't bother me so much as it is a quick cheek peck on both sides. That's their culture and it is not sensual in nature.

But start doing that here in America and folks are going to look at you weird.

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As I mentioned in my other post, I really believe that it's an urban thing, especially in the US. I truly doubt that it will play in Peoria and it will probably lead to even greater polarization in the US. Those in rural and conservative sub/exurban America will never understand it. Masculine friendships for them will never go past a handshake and their worlds will be poorer because of it.

Not homophobic in the slightest. Doesn't mean I have to partake in it to prove I have nothing against them. I just don't see kissing on the lips as friendly. The cheek kisses I received while dating that girl from SA was about as far as I could handle.

Kiss me on the lips with a set of balls and I'm going to break your nose.

As I mentioned in my other post, I really believe that it's an urban thing, especially in the US. I truly doubt that it will play in Peoria and it will probably lead to even greater polarization in the US. Those in rural and conservative sub/exurban America will never understand it. Masculine friendships for them will never go past a handshake and their worlds will be poorer because of it.

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My world is rich indeed in Christ and I don't need to have kisses from men to enhance that. I believe it is a cultural thing and for me in this country it is not part of our culture. I believe men are meant to kiss women and not other men.

My world is rich indeed in Christ and I don't need to have kisses from men to enhance that. I believe it is a cultural thing and for me in this country it is not part of our culture. I believe men are meant to kiss women and not other men.

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